Universal torpedo dropping gear



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C. DANN.` UNIVERSAL TORPBDO DROPPING GEAR.

' Patented July 14,1891.

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' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. o. DANN. UNIVERSAL TORPBD() DROPPING GEAR.

NO- 4556742-- Patentedauly 14, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Gunter..

CARDIGAN DANN, OF WILLIAMSTOlVN, VICTORIA.

UNIVERSAL TORPEDO-DROPPING GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters atent No. 455,742, dated July 14, 1891.

Application filed May 13, 1890. Serial No. 351,586. (No model.) Patented in Victoria February 22, 1887, No. 4,9113, and in England January 22, 1889,No.1,195{

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARDIGAN DANN, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at iVilliamstown, in the Colony of Victoria, Australia, have invented a new and useful Universal Torpedo-Dropping Gear, (for which 1 have obtained patentsin the Colony of Victoria, No. 4,943, bearing date February 22, 1887, and in England, No. 1,195, dated January 22, 1889,) of which the following is a' specification.

My improved torpedo-dropping gear has for its object means whereby a torpedo may be quickly and firmly gripped, launched, dispatched, or replaced inboard when exercising or maneuvering in smooth or rough water without removing or shipping or unshipping the davits, as is generally the case with other apparatus.

By the use vof my invention two persons may easily exercise or maneuver torpedoes of Various diameters with facility and without the slightest possibility of an accident or injury to the thin shell of the torpedo.

The apparatus which my invention is intended to supplant is that which is known as the service torpedo-dropping gear, the disadvantages attending the manipulation of which are, first, a torpedo when launched overboard by means of the davits heels wit-h the heel of the boat, and is consequently prevented from dropping vertically, with the result that the tail-frame strikes the water diagonally, deiiecting the torpedo from the direction of the object of attack; secondly, the use of tackle with the davits necessitates the employment of a number of skilled hands to either launch the torpedoes or lift them out of the water; thirdly, the davits cannot be shipped or unshippedwith facility; fourthly, the tongs of the service-gear are difficult of adaptation to differentpatterns of m aneu vered torp-edoes, and therefore to change the tongs when required and substitute others necessitates the employmentof a mach-anic; fifthly, the gear fitted for the starboard side of boat is not interchangeable-that is to say, it is not adapted for the port side.

Now I entirely overcome the foregoing disadvantages, and before 1 describe the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my dropping-gear I will distinguish the various figures upon the accompanying sheets of drawings, which are to be taken as part of this specification and read therewith.

Figure 1 is a side elevationV of my gear turned outboard in the position ready for iiring and also for lifting the torpedo out of the water when exercising. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. at is an elevation of firing-lever; Fig. 5, a plan of said firing-lever. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a spreader which is used to lock theA tongs. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the said spreader; Fig. 8, an elevation of a sprocket and spur wheel hereinafter described 5 Fig. 9, a half vertical section of Fig. 8; Fig. 10, an elevation of a pinion which meshes' with spur-wheel shown at Fig. S; Fig.

11, an end elevation of pinion shown at Fig.

10. Fig. 12 shows a side elevation of a grooved block spring and pawl which engages with spur-wheel shown at Fig.y 8. Fig. 13 is afront elevation of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 lis a rear side elevation of Figs. 12 and 13. plan of a clearance-fork; Fig. 16, an elevation of Fig. 15. Fig.17 is a longitudinalsectional view of the tongs or shaft from the centerof the recessed seat of each curved arm, showing the position of the parts ready for firing.Y Fig. 18 is an outsideplan of the tong-tube, showing the collars and slots hereinafter described. Fig. 19 shows an alternative arrangement for'dispatching the torpedo brought about by the explosion of a cartridge by means of an electric current. Fig. 2O is an end View of Fig. 19. Fig. 2l ,is an elevation of one of the two plumber-blocks or bearings which carry the tube or axle shaft of the davits. Fig. 22 shows a front elevation of a plumberblock and a part of the tube or shaft carr fing the davits. Fig. 23 is a view of the tube or shaft which carries the davits, also showing the cotters against a portion ofv the latterand Fig. 15 shows a the pins through said cotters. p Fig. 24 is af' portion of the curved arm projecting from one of the davits, showing the form of recessed seat which receives the tong-tube. Fig. 25

shows a View of the tongs open to receive a torpedo.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar Y roo or corrcspondin g parts where they occur in the several views. f

The scale of Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is one inch equal one foot. The scale of the remaining figures is three inches equal one foot.

The manner in whichI construct my dropping-gear will be understood from the following description:

- a represents a tubular axle or shaft arranged in two plumber-blocks or bearings a and a2, bolted to the deck of a torpedo-boat or other vessel. a3 and a4 represent two davits, the bottom portion of each of which is af- -fixed to said shaft a by cotters or keys b and h. b2 and h3 are safety-pins (shown at Fig. 23) inserted to hold said cotters in position. b4 and c are curved arms projected from said davits and provided each with a recessed seat c for the tong-tube hereinafter described.

c2- and osare partly-screwed securing-pins insert-ed in holes or eyes corresponding with each other in the bottom portion of eachdavit and the top portion of each davit and the top portion of yeach plumber-block to hold the davits Outboard or inboard or in any other position. A chaiing-block, such as c", is secured between each of the two cheeks of the davits to avoid injury to the shell of the tor-4 pedo. when secured inboard.

c4 and d are the two purchase-chains, which are used simultaneously to turn the gear inboard or lower it outboard and for lowering the tongs to recover the torpedo from the water when practicing. These chains are connected to shackles d and cl2, carrying the tong-tube d3. Said chains are carried over the sprocket-wheels C74 and e, each being connected with a shackle or carrier provided with cheeks, which are formed into bearings to carry the tong-tube. The inboard end of chain has a swivel and is secured to a cleat or hook affixed to the deck of the vessel. Each of the shackles or carriers has a slotted shank e', with an eye to which both the aforesaid chains are connected. A cotter c2 is inserted in each of said slotted shanks, andv rests upon aseat e3, (which also acts as a guideplate,) having a' central opening or perforation for chain. Said seat is secured between two cheeks of the upper portion of the curved arms b4 and c. By this means the tong-tube can be easily placed in or recovered or released from the curved arms and lowered to the water to recover the torpedo and replace it in position for recharging, read justing, and firing when at practice.

eL is a tube extended from and secured by two lock-nuts f and f to eachdavit to brace the top ends of the' latter. This tube e4 receives aspindlej", which is revolved by means of two handles f2 and f2, one at each end. The boss of each handle acts as a shoulder to prevent the spindle moving laterally.

f3 and f1't represent two pinions, each of which is arranged upon that part of the spindle between the two cheeks of each davit.

g and g are Aspur-wheels arranged to revolvefreely upon rigid pins or bolts which i form the axis.

Each of the sprocket-wheels before mentioned is cast upon one side of the spur-wheel to carry the aforesaid chains cl and d.

g2 and g3 are clearance-forks, which are used to prevent the two chains c4 and c7 from j ainming upon the sprocket-wheels when the purchase is used in either direction.

g4 and 72l are pawls engaging with the spurwheels g and g. These pawls are pivoted in the top end of the davits and kept in gear with the spur-wheels by means of flat springs 71, and h2.

4h3 and h4 are grooved blocks secured uponV the same bolt and pin carrying the pawls g4 and h. These blocks confine the chains c4 and d in the sprocket-wheels aforesaid.

By the adaptation and arrangement of the aforesaid gear wheels and chains the tongtube and tongs with torpedo can be uniformly lowered from the aforesaid recessed seats in the curved arms b1 and c, and to replace the said tongtube in the. latter it is only necessary to revolve the before-men tioned spindle f by the handles f2 and f2 and replace the cotters in the slotted shackles or carriers.

fi and t" are torpedo-tongs arranged upon the aforesaid tube t2 and lgare collarssecured to said tube d3 to keep the jaw of each pair of tongs together. Each jaw of tongs is made of two curved pieces, between which two eccentric sheaves are arranged at suitable distances for carrying the torpedo pins or bolts, (one for eachy sheave,) and are secured in each jaw. The top eccentrics j j and j j may work off their axes, say,v half an inch or more, if desired. The other eccentrics `7'2 and 7'3 in each jaw also work off their axes to suit torpedoes of different diameters. Thus it will be seen that there are four eccentrics in each pair of tongs. The pins jt andy'4 are extended from lthe side of two jaws of tongs to receive hooks, pivoted one to each davit, as shown, Fig. 2, to preventthetongs with torpedo from rolling or swaying when placedinboard. The top portion of each jaw upon one side of said tongs has two projections or horns 7c and 7a2, while the jaws upon the side of ltube have also each two projections 7a and 7c. The top projections, lettered 71: and 7a2, carry the bar 7a3, termed the spreader-bar, provided with two spreaders 764 and 765. The other projections 76 and 7a are curved downward to cause the tongs to close automatically when lowered upon the torpedo to recover it. The top projections 7a2 and 7a2 of the opposite jaws of tongs carry a-rod Z, which is engaged by the hooked end of each spreader. The slotted end 7 of each of the latter is fitted upon the spreaderbar 7c3.

Z2 and Z2 respresent slots, one in each jaw of tongs. A feather is secured in the underside of said tong-tube between the aforesaid collars t2 and s to limit the opening and closing ot the tongs.

7 and 75, Figs. 13 and 17, representv two tie- IOC IIO

l pair of tongs. Theserods cause the tongs to rodSeaehof whichv is connected with each open or close simultaneously.

fm, is a firing-bar, which is actuated by a tiring-lever m (or by a blowing charge) and is free to inovelaterally in the said tong-tube. The firing-lever is fulcrumed upon a pin m2, carried by two cheeks formed upon the sleeve 'm3, tting upon the tong-tube.

mJl and m5 represent two studs secured in the firing-bar to permit the tiring-lever to actuate the latter.

'n is a pin, termed the safety-pin, inserted into a hole in the tong-tube andthe firing-bar to lock or secure the two latter until the torpedo is ready to be dispatched.

n and n are recesses or gullets formed in the leg of each spreader to receive the projections 'n2 of theinclined planes of firing-bar. Thelbefore-mentioned pin n and the projections n? prevent the spreader being released from the rod Z when atorpedo is in the tongs.

When the safety-pin is withdrawn, the firing -lever may be actuated, which consequently moves the tiring-bar and the screwed spindle wit-h a lever-tripper, hereinafter described.

n and r#represent two inclined planes secured in the tiring-bar by means of two pins .or rivets, such as O and O. A slot O2 is made in the top side of the tong-tube, and also in the ring-bar, to allow the legs of the spreaders to engage with the inclined planes n3 and-n4.

p is a drop-catch with a recess formed in the bottom part to receive the fin usually litted upon torpedoes. This drop-catch keeps the torpedo in its proper position when exer-v cising or maneuvering until dispatched.

q is the screwed spindle before mentioned, arranged in the tong-tube and connected to the firing-bar m. Upon this screwed spindle a tapped sleeve or nut g', Fig. 16, is fitted to carry the adjustable air-lever tripperr, havinga central slot and lock-nut fr to secure it after adj Listing its height vertically, and by means of a handle 'r2 it may be adjusted laterally to come into contact with the air-lever used upon the several classes of torpedoes. The inner end of said spindle q is connected to the firing-bar m by means of two pins r3 engaging with a groove or recess formed in the periphery of the bush shown.

I do not confine myself to the use of the firing-lever m', as before described, as I may dispense with it and use instead the electrical firing arrangement illustrated at Fig. 19. In this case I form a combustion-chamber s by arranging a flanged disk s upon the fore end of tong-tube. This disk has a central opening or aperture with a recess in the front side to receive and hold a cartridge, such as t. Near the outsideedgevof said disk s I pivot. a breech-block t', having a slot t2, extended from its center to the bottom edge to permit two electrical wires from a suitable battery to connect with the cartridge, as well as to hold mentioned firing-bar m (shown at Fig. 19) Il insert a screwed plug t3 to effectually close the combustion chamber. By this means, when the cartridge-is exploded in the latter, the iiringfbar is actuated by the force of such explosion. t

A series of vent-holes, such as t4, is made in the tong-tube at the end of the stroke of firing-bar to allow the superfluous gas arising .from the explosion Pto escape4 from the cornbustion-chamber to avoid injury to thetongqg tube or firing-bar.

The following parts of my gear are made of brass: the plumber-blocks a. and d2, airlever tripper fr, sprocket-wheels d4 and e',

screwed spindle q and its nut, caps upon ends of tong-tube d3, combustion-chamber aand 1in for crutch p. The eccentric sheaves and ehaflng-blocks are made of box or hard wood, While the other parts ofgear areinade of steel.

My dropping -gear may be extended to either one of two positions, a first and a second position. When the boat is exercising or maneuvering in rough Water, the gear is set up to the first position; but when .in smooth waterthe gear is extended to the second position; which is the outermost one.

The mode of operating my dropping-gear for the launchand dispatch of a torpedo is as follows: Atorpedo is rst placed in the tongs, then charged and adjusted in the usual manner. This is easily effected, because the airinlet plug is easily accessible in the several patterns of the maneuvered class -of -torpedoes the diameter of which vary. They are either twelve inches, fourteen inches, or ifteen inches. After charging and adjusting the torpedo while in the tongs with the gear at the inboard position, as yrepresented by dotted lines, Fig. 1, the davits-are turned to the first or second outboard position. The two purchase-chains cl and CZ carried .by the sprocket-wheels are next operated simultaneously by turning the handles f2 and f2 for the purpose of lowering the gear carryingthe torpedo to an Voutboard position. A firingline is attached to the lever m and-the safetypin n withdrawn. The line when pulled actuates the firing-bar m laterally, causing the inclined planes n3 and 'n4 to impart a vertical movement to the legs of the spreaders 7a4 and 105, the hooked ends of which are thereby released from the tie-rod Z, consequentlyopening the tongs and throwing the air-lever simultaneously backwardly and horizontally. By this action the tripper engages the airlever, which opens the torpedo stop-valve. This valve when opened admits the air freely to propel the engine of the torpedo,whicl1 then drops into the water and takes up its running. Vhen the electrical vfiring arrangement shown at Fig. 19 is used in lieu of the IOO IIO

tube, spreading devices connecting the iiringvtube with the tongs, and actuating means for the firing-tube, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the davits having arms provided with seats c and a lowering mechanism, of a tong-tube adapted to tit said seats and connected with the lowering mechanism, tongs on said tube, spreading devices for said tongs, a firing-tube sliding in the 4tong-tube, and means for actuating the Iiri ngtube, substantially as set forth'.

3. In a torpedo-dropping gear, the combi-` nation, with the tong-tube, tongs connected therewith, and the firing-tube within the tong-tube, of screw q, having an operatinghandle and connected with the iiring-tube, a nut engaging the screw, and the air-lever tripper r, mounted on the nut, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the tong-tube and tongs connected therewith, of the'spreading mechanism comprising the spreaders 7a4 105, inclined planes n4 n3, mounted in the tongtube, and an actuating mechanism for moving said planes longitudinally in the tongtube, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the tong-tube, tongs connected therewith, the iringtube mounted Within the tong-tube, of a spreading mechanism connecting the tongs with the f iring-tube, and the firing-lever m', mounted 6h the'tong-tube and engaging the tiring-tube to actuate the latter, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

OARDIGAN DANN.

ALBERT SwANsoN, C. HARRISON. 

